What is the most important storyline for Miami football training camp?

The Miami football program is coming off of its most successful season since 2004. They won the ACC Coastal Division and played in the ACC Championship game for the first time. What is the Hurricanes biggest storyline for 2018 training camp?

Many would answer that the biggest storyline in training camp for the Miami football team is the play of quarterback Malik Rosier. That storyline is one to watch once the Hurricanes begin the season September 2 against LSU.

The turnover chain, the defense’s ability to create turnovers, rebuilding the interior of the defensive line and the extremely deep and talented wide receiver corps are all going to be worth watching in training camp during the four weeks leading up to kickoff in Arlington, Texas.

The biggest storyline for Miami in training camp will be the maturation of the Hurricanes offensive line. Head Coach Mark Richt and Offensive Line Coach Stacy Searles struggled to find answers during Spring football to stop the pass rush from the Hurricanes defense.

The offensive line and the positions the players were in was frequently shuffled before settling on the starters entering training camp. The five offensive linemen that were first string on the depth chart at the end of spring remain in the same positions currently.

We knew that Tyler Gauthier was going to be the Miami starting center after he started all 13 games there in 2017. Tyree St. Louis’ move from right tackle to left tackle was also close to a sure thing even entering spring football. The other three starters upfront were all precarious.

Sophomore Navaughn Donaldson was named a True Freshman All-American at right guard by ESPN in 2017. After George Brown struggled at right tackle during Spring practice, Richt and Searles made the decision to move Donaldson to take Brown’s spot at right tackle.

Donaldson was recruited to Miami as a tackle so the move actually put Donaldson in a more familiar position. Junior Hayden Mahoney took over as the new starting right guard. Mahoney will likely battle with Graduate Transfer Venzell Boulware to keep his starting job.

ESPN in a preview of the 2018 season wrote a story about the “Most important fall camp storyline for each Top 25 team.”  The storylines varied as much as the teams’ styles. Andrea Adelson who frequently writes about the Hurricanes states that Miami’s offensive line issues are the most important storyline for training camp.

"“Offensive line issuesThe Hurricanes struggled along the offensive line during spring practice, so getting that position shored up in the fall is a priority.One player to watch is Navaughn Donaldson, who started 10 games as a true freshman at right guard last season but has moved over to right tackle to ease concerns at that position. Donaldson has lost 10 pounds and is in much better shape, but he’s still getting adjusted to playing tackle. — Andrea Adelson”"

There is far more to watch then just Donaldson. Gauthier will be the steadying influence for the Miami big uglies. You would expect that from a center. He is on the Watch List for the Outland Trophy awarded to the nation’s best interior lineman and the Rimington Award for the best center nationally.

Jahair Jones will be the Hurricanes fifth starter up front. Jones who is a Senior has not played much prior to the 2018 season. He will be the starter at left guard. Miami does not have a lot of experience on their offensive line other than Gauthier, St. Louis and Donaldson. They need all three players to stay healthy this season.